1 Samuel 18:9-30 And Saul eyed David from that day and forward.… Keep in mind the undoubted anointing of David, and then see what untoward and heartbreaking experiences may befall men whom God has sealed as the special objects of His favour and the high ministers of His empire. Given, a man called of God to a great work, and qualified for its execution, to find the providences which will distinguish his course. A child might answer the easy problem: His career will be brilliant — his path will be lined with choice flowers — he will be courted, blessed, honoured on every hand. Look at the history of David for a contradiction of this answer. We shall find persecution, hatred, difficulty, hunger, cold, loneliness, danger upon danger; yet he who endures them all is an anointed man — a favourite of heaven. The history, so far as we shall be able to trace it, shows four things respecting the discipline of an anointed man: — I. THAT GREAT HONOURS ARE OFTEN FOLLOWED BY GREAT TRIALS. These trials not to be looked at in themselves, but in their relation to the honours which went before. Imagine a garden discussing the year as if it were all winter. Look at the temptation assailing David, in the fact that he alone had slain the enemy of Israel. Something was needed on the other side to chasten his feeling. Men must be taught their weakness as well as their power. II. THAT GREAT TRIALS GENERALLY BRING UNEXPECTED ALLEVIATIONS. "The soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as his own soul." The love of one true soul may keep us from despair. Love is fertile and energetic in device, See what Jonathan did. Love is more than a match for mere power. Love is most valued under such circumstances as David's. "There is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother." III. THAT NO OUTWARD TRIALS CAN COMPARE IN SEVERITY WITH THE SELF-TORMENT OF WICKED MEN. We are apt to think that Saul did all the mischief, and David suffered it. That is an incomplete view of the case, Saul was himself the victim of the cruellest torment. IV. THAT GREAT TRIALS, THOUGH CALLING FOR SELF-SCRUTINY, MAY NOT CALL FOR SELF-ACCUSATION. This is a point which should be put with great delicacy, because we are too apt to exempt ourselves from self-reproach. The question which the tried man generally asks himself is, What have I done? Days of misery have been spent in brooding ever that inquiry. The question is only good so far as it goes. It should be succeeded by another — What is God doing? Imagine the silver in the refining fire asking, What have I done? — not knowing that it is being prepared to adorn the table of a king! Imagine the field asking, What have I done, that the plough should cut me up? We are strong only so far as we see a Divine purpose in the discipline of our life. "Whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth and scourgeth every son whom He receiveth." "Let patience have her perfect work." We are polished by sharp friction. We are refined by Divine fire. Sorrow gives the deepest, and sweetest tone to our sympathy. We should be driven mad by uninterrupted, ever-augmenting prosperity. Over every jealous soul the hand of the Lord is omnipotent. Look at Saul, and the case of David is hopeless: look beyond him, and see how by a way that he knew not the shepherd was being trained to be mighty among kings, and chief of all who sing the praises of God. (J. Parker, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: And Saul eyed David from that day and forward. |
    |